QotD - Speaker for the Diodes — LiveJournal

11:41 am - QotD

[I just noticed this didn't get posted when the cron script ran at 5:25 ... "errors loggin in".]

Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between Man & his God, that he owes account to none other for his faith or his worship, that the legitimate powers of government reach actions only, & not opinions, I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should "make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof," thus building a wall of separation between Church & State. Adhering to this expression of the supreme will of the nation in behalf of the rights of conscience, I shall see with sincere satisfaction the progress of those sentiments which tend to restore to man all his natural rights, convinced he has no natural right in opposition to his social duties.

I reciprocate your kind prayers for the protection & blessing of the common father and creator of man, and tender you for yourselves & your religious association, assurances of my high respect & esteem.

Thomas Jefferson, writing to the Danbury Baptist association, 1802-01-01.

Note: Today is the official United States National Day of Prayer (established by law in 1952, with the date -- first Thursday in May -- nailed down by another law in 1988). Explanation of how this fits with the Establishment Clause (especially after reading the page linked in this paragraph) is left as an exercise for the reader.

Tomorrow, on the other hand, is No Pants Day, a much less controversial holiday (and an international one)! (Un)dress appropriately, y'all.